Clin Endosc.  2017 Nov;50(6):592-597. 10.5946/ce.2017.010.

Endoscopic Ultrasonography Can Prevent Unnecessary Diagnostic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Even in Patients with High Likelihood of Choledocholithiasis and Inconclusive Ultrasonography: Results of a Prospective Study

• Patel R
• Ingle M
• Choksi D
• Poddar P
• Pandey V
• Sawant P

• KMID: 2398311
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5946/ce.2017.010

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the initial therapy recommended for patients with high likelihood of choledocholithiasis. To determine whether endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) can prevent diagnostic ERCPs in patients with high probability of choledocholithiasis and inconclusive ultrasonography (US).
METHODS
All patients with high likelihood of choledocholithiasis and negative US underwent EUS. ERCP was performed for the patients who showed a definite stone/sludge on EUS. Patients without choledocholithiasis were followed up for 3 months. The primary outcome was avoidance of diagnostic ERCP.
RESULTS
We included 78 patients (51 women; 27 men). Of these, 25 and 7 (total 41%) were diagnosed with choledocholithiasis and sludge, respectively; stone/sludge was removed in 96.9% of the patients. EUS ruled out choledocholithiasis in 38 patients (48.7%). Two of them were found to have choledocholithiasis on follow-up. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of EUS for detecting choledocholithiasis were 93.9%, 97.3%, 96.9%, and 94.7%, respectively. Unnecessary ERCP was avoided in 57.7% of the patients by using the EUS-first approach.
CONCLUSIONS
EUS is a highly accurate and safe procedure. EUS can replace ERCP as the initial investigation in patients with a high probability of choledocholithiasis. It avoids unnecessary ERCP; hence, decreasing related costs and complications.

Keyword

Endosonography; High likelihood; Choledocholithiasis; Unnecessary endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography; Inconclusive imaging

MeSH Terms

Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde*
Choledocholithiasis*
Endosonography*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Prospective Studies*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Sewage
Ultrasonography*
Sewage

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Study protocol with details of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. a)Eight patients had alternative diagnosis on endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS).

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